Crossing an old Jotul 602 with an oak bureau

So I've had this side plate from my dad's circa 1976 Jotul 602 kicking around since last fall when he repalced it with a new one. I figured that I would hang it in the wood shop for nostalgic/conversation purposes. A few weeks ago my wife and I are having a discussion about having the ugly 5 gallon bucket near the stove to hold wood. Bingo, a wood box. The light goes on and the plans have been forming in my head for several weeks. About a month ago I grabbed a mahogany pallet from work with lots of clear wood on it. I figure this is just what I needed, but after laying out pieces, I knew I would be short on wood. Also pallet slats, being about 1/2" thick have no real estate to set fasteners into them without splitting issues.

Just two weeks ago, I acquired a free oak childs bureau from probably the 1930's that was pretty beat, but with lots of good wood on it. Quick figures in my head and I knew this would work.

The potential pieces.



Ripping the frame from the back top. I kept the two middle pieces.



Pieces that will be the top frame. Bottom scallop was removed. Before.



After going through the surface planer.



The side plate was cleaned, primed and a few coats of charcoal thermolux paint was put on that gave it a satin sheen. I put dadoes in the frame of the box to accept and secure the lip of the side plate. The cup pull on the side was from an old workbench. I still have to find the other one to finish the project. Various pieces were stained to darken and match the others. It received two coats of poly to finish. The inside bottom was poplar slats from a pallet. It may be more like a kindling box for some, but it holds about 8-10 splits which is plenty for us for a full day running the stove.

So this piece of the family stove is now immortalized and put back into use to enjoy.






Side with cup pull.



Top.



Back. The holes are from original dadoes that I may or may not fill. The back was made from the side of the bureau turned on its' side.


Bug hole detail top right.



Part of the challenges of this project was to hide any defects of the wood, but also show certain ones, and bring out the beauty of the grain that was under a tired old finish. This will wait until November before it goes into service.

Brilliant conversion, I love the idea of re-using something, this is almost like recycling but better!!

Very pretty looking . . . and functional.

I like it.
It should hold up well for a long time.

Thanks all. I was going for the rugged manliness look of it.

C'mon Jake...pretty? Just may go back to the 5 gallon bucket.

Oh sorry . . . Fishingpol that woodbox looks bad @$$ . . . I mean when I see it I think "This is in a home of a real wood burner -- not some pansy wanna be wood burner . . . forget the fine furniture -- this rugged piece of craftsmanship is sure to last long after Armageddon."

That better? HehHeh.

I have to have one. Just freaking awesome.

That is very nice. Love it!

Perfect. I was just thinking that would be something nice to stare at and appreciate when the flames have died down.

great re-purposing job, Jon! That thing looks way cool, like it was built that way many moons ago. Love it!

Been thinking I need a box. This piece of artful reuse inspires me to enlist someone more qualified to execute my desires.

Thanks all.

I feel much better now Jake. I took a few splinters from the old dry wood.



Scotty, I was going for an old time-freight looking box design to go with our furniture.



Most of the time when I see an old junk piece of furniture, the gears start turning on what I could turn it into.